by Leela Ash
“Who is that handsome man you’re hanging around town with?” Cameron exclaimed. “I might just have to get you to give me his phone number!”
Lyla pursed her lips as patiently as she could manage and smiled tightly.
“His name is Jonah. I just brought him up to see Douglas.”
“You’re kidding!” Cameron squealed. Her green eyes flashed and Lyla immediately regretted speaking. “You mean he’s back?! Jonah Lucas?!”
“That’s the one,” Lyla said, a smile frozen on her face. “Betsy thought it would be nice for me to bring him up while I collect the donations.”
Hopefully, steering the conversation back to the original purpose for Lyla’s visit would be enough to get Cameron out of gossip mode. It was worth a shot anyway.
“Oh, the donations…”
Cameron’s smile faltered and for the first time since seeing her, Lyla’s smile became real. Cameron was a notorious penny pincher. Everybody knew the only reason she had agreed to help Betsy’s drive was to look good. But the actual act of parting with her merchandise was clearly paining her.
“Yeah. Greg said they would be ready today.”
“Right, of course…”
Cameron disappeared into the back and Lyla sat down, knowing it was going to be quite a long time before Cameron figured out what it was she was going to be willing to part with. Betsy had worked with Cameron once before, so Lyla was familiar with what to expect. Instead of feeling hurt or agitated by it though, Lyla took it as an opportunityto get off her feet.
The day before, not only had she helped Betsy to get her feast on the table, but she had been walking all over Stonybrooke asking for pledges and donations, and handing out invitations to the event that Betsy was hosting that weekend. It was a lot of work, but there weren’t a lot of other people who were willing to do it. And it was a worthy cause.
Finally, Cameron emerged with a small basket filled with samplers of shampoos and conditioners and other odds and ends. Lyla took the basket graciously from Cameron, who looked as if she was expecting a medal, and smiled.
“Thank you, Cameron. I hope to see you this weekend.”
“Of course!” Cameron exclaimed. “I can’t wait to see what my donation will raise for the needy.”
Lyla did her best to bow out gracefully and continue the rest of her rounds. By the time she had visited the other stores at the square, her legs were tired and the trunk of her car was full of donations for the auction. She sat down in the driver’s seat and closed her eyes, and before she knew it, she had slipped into a light sleep.
Lyla woke suddenly, startled out of sleep by the feeling of being watched. She looked around groggily and found herself electrified by Jonah’s eyes looking intently at her from in front of the car. He raised an eyebrow and a look, almost like a smile but not quite, lightened his face.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked. He didn’t move, but she could hear his deep voice as clear as day from the open window.
“Yeah. Are you all set?”
Jonah nodded and he got into the car, closing her in with his rugged, masculine scent.
Lyla closed her eyes one last time, trying to calm her nerves. It had been startling to wake up like that, with this handsome but brooding man staring at her. She could tell the wolf in him was strong but tightly controlled. She often encountered men who had very little control over the beast within them, but there was something different about Jonah. Something very disciplined.
“Tired, huh?” Jonah said, unable to hide the amusement from his voice, despite the stoicism in his handsome face.
“Exhausted, actually,” Lyla said. Her stomach growled loudly and this time, a small laugh escaped Jonah’s lips. Deep. Hearty.
“I could go for some lunch,” he said, stretching casually. Was he starting to loosen up around her? She could only wish. He seemed like a strikingly confident man. He was probably comfortable anywhere.
“Great,” Lyla said, though inwardly, her stomach was knotting. “Is there anywhere you would prefer to eat?”
“Is Maurice still in business?” Jonah asked. She could tell by the way he said it that nowhere else would do for him. Fortunately, Maurice had been busy feeding Stonybrooke for the past twenty years and counting, at least.
“Of course,” Lyla said. “He has the best fries for miles.”
“Amen to that,” Jonah agreed.
Lyla couldn’t help but smile as she made a U-turn. It was just a casual lunch. Nothing special. Whether she was attracted to Jonah or not, she just couldn’t let herself think too deeply into it. It wouldn’t work out.
“Maurice’s it is,” Lyla said.
5.
As soon as he walked through the door, Jonah was stricken by the incredible scent of Maurice’s cooking. Because of their heightened senses, shifter cuisine was top-notch, and Maurice had managed to perfect it in a simple way that even humans could enjoy.
“Jonah?”
The sound of Maurice’s voice struck Jonah hard. It had been a long time, and Maurice was one of those guys who managed to make it feel like he truly cared about you, no matter what you’d gone through. When Jonah had lost his parents, he had spent a lot of time with Maurice, who seemed to act unofficially as a mentor for young shifters with troubled backgrounds. He was a great man, in Jonah’s opinion. An unsung hero.
“Maurice,” Jonah said, smiling broadly.
“I can’t believe it! You’ve grown so much! And your power…”
Jonah shook his head modestly. That kind of attention always made him feel a little uncomfortable. That was partly why he was so comfortable in the SEALs. It was work he could do well but do without credit. Behind the scenes was his ideal; being the center of attention just wasn’t the kind of thing that he enjoyed.
“How have you been, Maurice?”
“Not bad,” Maurice said, his blue eyes glittering as he led Jonah and Lyla to a booth. “Have a seat. What are you drinking?”
Jonah glanced at Lyla, and she smiled shyly. “Just water for me, please.”
“And let me guess. Jonah will have the apple juice.”
“Damn right.”
Lyla laughed, a sudden musical sound that made Jonah’s heart pang despite itself. There was something beautiful about her voice, whether speaking or laughing. But it wouldn’t do him any good to focus on that. He turned his attention back on Maurice.
“Here are a few menus,” he said, giving Jonah a wink. “I’ll be back soon to take your order.”
Jonah held the menu in his hands and gazed around the familiar establishment. The booths were the same as he remembered, but some of the interior was different. The tile behind the counter was red now, not brown, and the pictures hanging on the walls had multiplied in number. A few he remembered were missing. How strange that a place could be so similar, and yet so different. It felt surreal, in a way, to be home after all this time, holding the familiar laminated menus with Maurice’s name splashed over the cover.
“Are you all right over there?”
Lyla’s voice reached him and the sudden vulnerability he felt was shocking. But he wasn’t the kind of man who talked about how he felt. He would rather die than say he was feeling nostalgic.
“It’s just weird to be home,” Jonah said. “That’s all.”
“I understand,” Lyla said with a light laugh. “It’s so weird for me to be home that I moved here.”
“I didn’t think you were a native,” Jonah said, though there was something about her that seemed very much at home in Stonybrooke. Whether she was human or not, she seemed to fit right in. That was rare. Especially, when it came to Cameron Davis and her welcoming committee. Any human who moved to Stonybrooke without already having a claim to a native shifter, as far as Cameron was concerned, anyway, didn’t belong there and she was adamant about making that much clear.
“No, not at all. Though, my grandfather was. And considering he practically raised me when my parents were out of the picture, too caught up in their own live
s, I was raised as a shifter. But I know I’m not. Not really.”
Jonah scoffed. He had encountered many purists out there who felt as if anybody who couldn’t shapeshift may as well not have shifter blood within them.
“That’s a pretty close-minded view. Don’t let other people tell you who you are or which part of your identity to value more. All right?”
“Right,” Lyla said, a pink flush coloring her cheeks. Jonah gazed at her for a moment, the wolf ready to dart right across the table, to make her his, but he shook the urge away. There was no way he could possibly allow himself to give in to the wolf. Not this time.
“All right,” Maurice said, just in time to help him forget his unwanted impulses. “You kids ready to order?”
“Yup,” Jonah said, clearing his throat.
When the food finally arrived, Lyla took a bite and studied him for a moment before smiling. “Did you hear about Betsy’s organization yet?”
“Only what she’s written me,” Jonah said. “Not a whole lot.”
“She’s kind of a big deal in Stonybrooke, you know.”
“Yeah?”
Jonah wasn’t surprised. Betsy had always had big ambitions, and a bigger heart. He had expected great things from his older sister.
“She’s done an amazing job at creating a community for people who otherwise wouldn’t have anything.”
“Is that how you met?” Jonah asked, suddenly burning with curiosity about this beautiful woman across from him. Sure, he couldn’t have a relationship right now, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a friend. Besides, it was just a littleconversation over lunch. What could it hurt?
“Yeah,” Lyla said, her ocean-colored eyes sparkling. She was breathtaking. Even more so knowing she wasn’t trying to be. “Betsy was the greatest supervisor a girl could ask for.”
“Ah, so you must be a good volunteer. Did you know my sister is very selective?” Jonah asked as it suddenly dawned on him that Betsy would only have been willing to hire Lyla if she was the best. And from the looks of the fliers and the stacks of material about Betsy’s organization, he had seen for himself how Lyla’s help had allowed Betsy to gain the courage to really ensure that her business was able to take off. Now, rather than just being not for profit, she was able to create jobs and increase the span of her work.
“I do believe I am,” Lyla said, looking away from Jonah quickly. She seemed to have a hard time holding his gaze. Was he intimidating to her? It really wouldn’t be surprising. He wasn’t very used to entertaining women. He had spent the past three years undergoing grueling training and embarking upon, and succeeding at, strategic missions.
“I’m glad you’re confident,” Jonah said. “It’s clear that you guys know what you’re doing here. Anybody would be lucky to get help from Shifters United.”
Lyla laughed. “You sound like you’re advertising for something. Are you a charity mugger? Do you want my money?”
Jonah grinned. “No, but it looks like you’re in the right business.”
They grew quiet as they began to eat, and Jonah almost found himself regretting it when they were both finished with their meals and it was time to take the donations back to the house.
“Thanks, Maurice!” Jonah said, giving Maurice nod as they left. Maurice beamed at him.
“Come back soon, Jonah. We can catch up a bit.”
“You can count on it,” Jonah said.
6.
“You really don’t have to do that,” Lyla said.
Her protests were futile as the big box full of items going for auction were lifted from her hands and Jonah flashed her a brief, sexy smile. Her heart fluttered despite herself and she dug through the trunk, desperate to escape the bright rays of his handsome face.
“Nonsense. What kind of man lets a lady carry everything right into his own house?”
Lyla opened and closed her mouth. His logic was flawless, but still, she felt uncomfortable with Jonah feeling like he had to do anything for her.
“You know, just because you’re a soldier doesn’t mean you have to protect me or do things for me.”
“Actually,” Jonah said, closing the trunk for her once she pulled out the small basket of cosmetics. “That’s exactly what it means. Whether you like it or not, it’s in the job description.”
Lyla exhaled. “Well, I’m the independent type. You don’t need to do anything for me.”
“Sure, I don’t,” Jonah said. Lyla got a glimpse of his eyes in the sunlight. They were a clear, caramel colored brown, and they shone beautifully in the afternoon sun.
They walked the donation items to the house in silence, each of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Finally, everything was where it was meant to be, and Jonah and Lyla stood awkwardly in front of the screen door.
“Well, thanks for treating me to lunch,” Lyla said. It had been impossible to get her money on the table. Jonah had insisted on paying for everything, and had even offered on filling her car with gas before they had reached his house. It was all a bit much. She was used to the men in her life taking her money, not giving it to her. Everyone but her grandfather had been like that.
“It was my pleasure,” Jonah said.
“I bet it was nice to see everybody today, huh?” Lyla said with a soft laugh. “I can tell they all missed you.”
“We’re a pack,” Jonah said, looking at her as if she were stupid. “Packs stick together.”
“Yeah,” Lyla said, a twinge of jealousy in her stomach. Although she’d had her grandfather, she didn’t have a pack. Maybe if she had, she would be accepted as a shifter. But despite how she was raised, it didn’t matter to the rest of the shifters. She may as well have been born fully human.
“Hey, I’m sure you’ll find your pack,” Jonah said, as if he could tell exactly what she was thinking. Was it that apparent on her face? “Sometimes, you have to make a pack from scratch, you know? It can be hard, but it’s always worth it.”
Warmth coursed through Lyla’s body as Jonah’s eyes, normally hard and pensive, softened and his face lit up with a handsome grin.
“Thanks,” Lyla said. They were words that elated her; words she had been waiting to hear but simply hadn’t yet. Somehow, a lot of their conversations already seemed to be that way. Jonah, seeing right into the depths of her soul, giving her insights that made her feel the very thing she had been living in Stonybrooke for two and a half years to feel. Accepted.
“Well, it’s been great, but I’m afraid I have an appointment I need to get to,” Jonah said, the kindness on his face disappearing back into the dark, impenetrable expression that Lyla had grown used to. She regretted him leaving her like that. She wished the kind, open Jonah would stay out with her forever.
“I understand. Thanks for all your help. Will I see you this weekend?”
Jonah seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. “Affirmative. I would love to be there to support Betsy… and you.”
Lyla’s heart lurched, her body awakened by his words. She had the sudden and bizarre urge to feel Jonah’s muscular arms around her, holding her close. A kiss right now couldn’t feel sweeter…
But before she could even register it, Jonah had turned right on his heel and disappeared up the stairs, leaving Lyla standing in the foyer alone behind him.
7.
“It’s worse than you thought, I’m afraid.”
Jonah grimaced at the news. He could feel Nichols tense up beside him as the Elder of the council continued to speak.
“The Serah Stone’s energy was located during a ceremony, but unfortunately, it is on the move. And the mine is growing deeper below Stonybrooke. I’m afraid there isn’t much more we can do. Our protection spells will only reach so far.”
“I understand,” Jonah said quietly. “Where do you think it’s going?”
“It’s got to be headed to Oak Mountain,” Nichols said. “It’s about two hours away from here by car.”
“You cannot go after it,” the E
lder cautioned. “There is a dire crisis now, in the mines. The bears have infiltrated. They will soon reach the sacred space beneath the city. If their ceremony is allowed to go on, the Serah Stone’s full powers will be activated.”
“Where are the mines?” Jonah asked urgently. There was still time to save Stonybrooke. All the shifters’ lives were in danger.
“They’re about a mile north of here. I can send someone to lead you to the entrance, but you should be able to use your nose from there. I will not risk the lives of any of our men. Not yet.”
“That’s perfectly fine,” Jonah said. “This is why we’re here. It’s our job now.”
“Will you have anyone else working with you?” the Elder asked, his gaze lingering on Nichols unkindly. “I know not all bears are bad, but…”
“That’s our business to worry about,” Jonah said quickly, irritated by the prejudice of the Elder. Yes, they had more troops ready to call in to organize if things got messy, and sure, it was true that bears often caused trouble for wolf shifters, but it didn’t mean they were all bad, just as the Elder had said. But it was obvious he didn’t mean what he said. Jonah was getting good and fed up with stereotypes. What did it take to bring equality to shifters of all origins? Nobody could help how they were born, could they? Did that mean they were worthy of discrimination and hatred?
“All right then, boys,” the Elder said, walking away dismissively. “I trust you to take care of this little problem. It’s not as if your careers are at stake here.”
Jonah’s chest tightened with rage, but he knew he couldn’t say anything. The Elder was technically his superior. He had to obey the laws of the pack just as much as he had to obey the rules of the SEALs. And, in this case, that meant he had to swallow his anger, and hold his tongue despite the ignorance of the Elder who was throwing his weight around and threatening Jonah’s job.
“I’ll have the boy meet you right here,” the Elder called, making his way slowly to his vehicle. “Don’t you two go anywhere.”
“Yes, sir,” Jonah said, exchanging a secret look of loathing with Nichols, who was clearly seething. The poor guy was more or less a gentle giant. The Elder probably felt threatened by Nichols, both for being a bear and because of his size. But that wasn’t going to help anything; especially not if they were his best chance of getting help for a delicate situation.
